Ad Orientem Mass During Advent

Dear Parishioners,

We are pleased to let you know that this Advent, Catholics in Oshkosh will have the opportunity to experience the Mass celebrated in a different style than most of us are used to. Specifically, Mass will be offered at St. Peter’s Church at 11:00 am on the Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent using the “ad orientem” liturgical posture, as well as some other traditional elements (such as music). This Mass is typically the Newman Center Mass for Catholic students at UW–Oshkosh, but for these three Sundays it will be open to all interested or curious Catholics in the city. 

This “ad orientem” Mass is being offered in response to interest from a number of families in the three Oshkosh parishes. It is being offered with permission from Bishop Ricken. 

In general, there are a variety of ways in which Mass may be celebrated. These include choices such as music, prayers, vestments, and liturgical posture. 

One of these options for celebrating Mass is where the priest faces the same direction as the people during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This is called an “eastern orientation” or, in Latin, an “ad orientem” posture: The priest and people together face God who first comes with the rising sun in the east. This posture was the common practice of the celebration of the Mass until about fifty years ago. In fact, for the first 1500 years of Christianity, churches were normally built facing east so that the “liturgical east” of the Mass lined up with the rising sun. 

Worship in this posture gives a distinct theological accent to the Mass. All Masses, regardless of posture, include both a focus on this world (the “immanent”) and the world to come (the “transcendent”). For many Christians over the centuries, celebrating Mass “ad orientem” has been experienced as a fitting way to worship God with a special focus on his transcendent mystery. 

We are proposing to offer one Mass per weekend in Oshkosh in the “ad orientem” liturgical style as a trial during Advent. We want to do this in a way that brings deeper appreciation for the depth of the Mass in its various forms, and at the same time foster continued unity among the faithful. This Mass is not any “better” than another Mass. Nor is this style of Mass intended to “turn the clock back.” We are hoping to offer this Mass for those who wish to experience this type of liturgy, whether they are already interested in it or are curious about different forms of Catholic worship.

We will offer this as an option for people to experience. At the same time we will continue to respect the profound dignity of every Mass, regardless of our personal tastes or preferences. At each, Christ is present to us in Word and Sacrament.

As pastors, we will evaluate this in January. We will observe the level of interest from people from Oshkosh, and if worship “ad orientem” is something that we might continue to offer in the future.

In the Risen Lord,

         Fr. Jerry Pastors                            Fr. Louis Golamari                        Fr. Tom Long               
 Most Blessed Sacrament                  St. Jude the Apostle             St. Raphael the Archangel